Lower Danube green corridor: floodplain restoration for flood protection

Since the mid-20th century, close to three-quarters of the Lower Danube's floodplains were cut off by dikes and converted to agriculture, altering flood regimes; combined with river-bed erosion (from gravel extraction, dredging and dam construction) and eutrophication, this contributed to major flood events (2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014), with climate change expected to further increase flood risk and flash-flood frequency.

Preserve 935,000 hectares along about 1,000km of the Lower Danube (enhanced protection for 775,000 hectares of existing protected areas plus 160,000 hectares newly protected) and restore 224,000 hectares of natural floodplain to retain and safely release flood waters, supporting sustainable local economies.

Since the 2000 Lower Danube Green Corridor Agreement between Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine, dikes have been removed and invasive vegetation cleared at multiple sites; by 2020, restoration was underway on more than 60,000 hectares. In Romania, 6,000 hectares across several sites (Babina, Cernovca, Mahmudia, Balta Geraiului, Garla Mare-Vrata) were reconnected to the river; on Ukraine's Tataru Island, dikes were removed to allow 750 hectares to flood naturally, with traditional cattle breeds introduced to control invasive species. WWF led coordination, providing technical and financial support for meetings and background documents.

During the 2013 Danube flood, no flooding occurred along the restored Lower Danube stretch despite above-average water levels. Restoration is estimated to cost EUR 183 million overall, with restored floodplains estimated (per Mansourian et al., 2019) to generate about EUR 111.8 million/year in ecosystem-service value, equivalent to roughly EUR 500/hectare/year.

The intergovernmental agreement was an effective vehicle for translating political commitment into action; Natura 2000 implementation and EU Water Framework Directive alignment (in Romania and Bulgaria) helped expand protected areas. Careful attention to land ownership (ensuring private landowners did not lose property rights) was key locally; WWF's independent, sustained coordinating role and political will in each country were identified as decisive factors, though dedicated EU/national financial mechanisms for floodplain restoration were noted as still lacking.